Closure for water-meters and the like.



F. W. HANKS.

CLOSURE FOR WATER METERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26.1912.

1,1 92,1 88. Patented July 25, 1916.

fTG-l m v Fe. 4 56 ATTORN EY" rnnnnnrcx'w. BANKS,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CLOSURE FOR WATER-METERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed March 26, 1912. Serial N 0. 686,350.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. HANKs,

a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Cleveland, countyofCuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Closures for Water-Meters and the like, of which thefollowing 1s a specification, the principle of the inventlon beingherein disclosed and the best mode in which I have contemplated applylngthat principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to water meters, hasregard more particularly to certain features of construction of suchmeters, whereby a bottom wall is provided for the outer casing, whichnot only permits of the ready assembling and taking apart of the meter,but also will yield outwardly should the water in such casing freeze, orundue pressure from any other source be exerted within the meter.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure lis a central vertical section of ameter embodying the aforesaid features of improvement; Fig. 2 is abottom plan view ofthe same;

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional view similar to that of Fig. 1,but showing a modification in construction; and Fig. 4 is a sectionshowing yet another modification.

The particular style of meter illustrated in the'foregoing drawings'isof the disk type, in which the measuring device proper takes the form ofa gyratory disk 1, suitably mounted in a transversely split inner casing2, which casing is in turn secured in.

an outer casing 3. The water or otherrfiuid to be measured is designedto be admitted into this outer casing through a suitable connection 4,and thence passes into the inner casing, from which it escapes by asuitable aperture (not shown) to an outlet connection 6, incidentallyactuating the gyratory disk, as will be readily understood. So far asconcerns any features of improvement of the meter mechanism properherein shown,

it should be explained that these form the subject matter of adivisional application filed June 10, 1912, Serial No. 702,678.

In the present improved construction the inner casing 2 is secured inplace by means of a bottom plate'or closure 7, that is directlyremovable so as to expose the entire interior of the outer casing andpermit of the ready withdrawal of the inner casing containing themeasuring device. To retain the bottom plate in place in the assembledcondition of parts, a plurality of radially disposed arms 8, four innumber as shown, is provided, such arms having their outer ends 9 recurved to fit over externally directed lugs, or flanges 10, formed onthe periphery of the outer casing near its bottom;

while the inner ends 11, of said arms, in the form illustrated in Figs.1 to 3 inclusive, extend into substantial contact with a central boss orlug 12 projecting downwardly from the bottom plate. This boss isinternally threaded to receive a set bolt 13, by the operation of whichlatter either a plain washer 14L may be pressed upwardly against theinwardly extending ends 11 of the arms 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, orelse a resilient washer 17, as shown in Fig. 3, may be thus pressedagainst said arm-ends. Said arms bear between their ends on suitablyrounded lugs 15 on the bottom plate constituting fulcrumal axes, sothat, when their inner ends press'the bottom plate'against the casingand form a water tight joint, a gasket 16 being interposed between thecasing and said bottom plate. By a pro-per proportioning of thethickness and strength of the outer recurved ends 9 of the arms, dueprovision may be made for their yielding or breaking in the event of themeter freezing, before any improper strain is imposed on the walls ofthe casing. However, not only does the foregoing construction possessthe advantage just referred to, but in ordinary operation, to open orclose the bottom it is obviously necessary to operate only a single setbolt, since thereby all the parts are drawn together. A uniform tensionon the bottom plate is at the same time secured all around the peripherythereof.

Instead ofaresilient washer 17, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, beinginterposed between the head of the set bolt and the inner ends of thearms, it willalso be understood that in the first describedconstruction, that of Figs. 1 and 2,'these arms maybe made of resilientmaterial with the same object in.

View, namely, to permit of a certain amount of give without breaking thearms. Such arms are furthermore desirably provided with downwardlyextending projections 18 that serve as legs on which to support themeter when installed. It is a matter of indifference, asalreadyindicated, how many such arms are utilized; for example, two might servein a small sized meter, while four or more might be required in a largesize, depending upon circumstances.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 4, relates to the arms 8 andconsists'of the omission of their inner ends, together with the screw 13and washer 14 for engaging therewith. In this form, said arms no longerfunction as levers but simply as hooks that are snapped overthe ledges10 and lugs 15, the gasket 16 being sufliciently compressible to permitof this being'do-ne. Even where the arms are utilized in their firstdescribed form, they will possess this characteristic to a suflicientdegree to hold the bottom more the main casing is practicallypermanently secured in the pipe line; at least a great deal ofdifficulty and labor would be involved in detaching the same, and'henceto, remove the. bottom would be not only annoying but frequently almostimpossible if much manipulation or adjustment of parts is required.WVith my improved construction, however, in the first place by simplysnapping the arms one at a time in place, the bottom may be temporarily.secured to the casing, and thereupon, referring tothe construction ofarms illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the set bolt for engaging the innerends of said arms may be drawn into tight engagement therewith. Finally,the frost-proof feature, provided by the construction ofthe outerre-curved ends of the arms, is 'eX- tremely simple, while at the sametime it permits of an unusually accurate gaging of the pressure at whichthe parts should yield. Furthermore, in the event of breakage actuallyoccurring by reason of the meter freez- I ingup, the particular arm orarms involved represent the only damage, and maybe easily and'che'aplyreplaced, thereupon rendering the meter closure as secure as ever.

Other modes of applying the principle of I ing claims or the equivalentof such stated means be employed. p

I therefore particularly point out and distinctlyv claim asmy inventionl lhecombination with the casing of a water meter or the like, ofaclosure'for such casing, and means for securing said closure in placecomprising one-piece arms adapted to detachably engage said casing attheir outer ends, said armsbeing weaker than the parts of the casing soas to break under undue-internal pressure and release the closure beforesuch casing yields, a bearing on the closure for said arms, and meansinside the bearing for pressingthe inner portion of said arms toward theclosure.

2. The-combination with the inner casing and the outer casing'of awatermeter or the like, of a closure for said outer casing adapt ed tosupport said inner casing, and means for securing said closure in placecomprising independent, one-piece arms engaging said outer casing attheir outer ends, said arms being weaker than the parts of thecasing soas to break under undue internal pressure and release the closure andinner casing before such outer casing yields, a bearingon the closurefor said arms, and means inside the bearing for pressing the innerportion of said arms toward the closure.

8. Thejcombination with inner casing 2 and outer casing 3, of closure 7supporting said inner casing 2 and having bearings 15, independent,one-piece, radial arms 8 engaging said bearings and having their outerends detachably engaging the casing 3, said arms being weaker than theparts of the cas ing so as to break under undue internal pressure andrelease said closure before such casing yields, and a screw deviceacting be tween the closure and arms inside the bearings to press theinner ends of the arms towardthe closure.

4. The combination with inner casing 2 and outer casing 3 havingexternal lugs '10,

of closure 7 supporting casing 2 and having 5. In, a: device of thecharacter described,

the combination of a suitable casing; a closure therefor; and means forsecuring said closure in place comprising a plurality of independent,one-piece arms adapted to directly detachably engage said casing attheir outer ends, said arms being Weaker than the parts of the caslng soas to break under 1111- due internal pressureand release the closurebefore such casing ylelds; a screw-member threaded on said closure andadapted to draw the inner ends of said arms toward said closure, saidarms bearing against the Copies of this patent may be obtained for armshaving recurved outer ends adapted to directly detachably externallyengage said casing, said arms being Weaker than the parts of the casingso as to break under undue internal pressure and release the closure#before such casing yields, a screw-member threaded on said closure andadapted to draw the inner ends of said arms toward said closure, theangle of said arms bein such as to cause them to bear against saicclosure between their ends, and a spring Washer interposed between suchinner armends and said member.

Signed by me this 23rd day of March, 1912.

FREDERICK W. HANKS.

Attested by D. T. DAVIES, JNo. F. OBERLIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

